Adjustable awning support



P 1930 A. o. HIGHSYMITH 1,775,857

ADJUSTABLE AWNING SUPPORT Filed March 21, 1929 INVENTOR A .0- HIGHSMITH- ATTORNEY 30, equipped with the improvements.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 AUBREY O. HIGHSMITH, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS ADJUSTABLE AWNING SUPPORT Application filed March 21, 1929. Serial No. 348,843.

My invention relates to awnings of the adjustable type and it has particular reference to devices for controlling and actuating the supporting structure of the awnings, by

.which the. latter may be adjusted and held in several positions relative to its mounting and the principal object of the invention resides in the novel construction and function of the control whereby an awning of the character 19 above mentioned may. be so constructed that no alterations are requiredin the window construction upon which the awning is mounted. Another object of the invention resides in the provision in an awning of the character 5 mentioned, an automatic locking and releasing mechanism for holding the awning in adjusted position when the latter is so moved.

Still another. object of the invention resides in the provisionof an improved awning support capable of being mounted on the windows anddoors of an automobile vehicle, in the grooves or channels parallel with the glass therein, and requiring but a minimum of time and effort for installation. v Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a car Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view being of a portion of an'automobile window showing the awning control in action. a

i Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, showmg the controldevices applied to a window.

frame, this view being taken from one end adiacent to the awning. I

1 Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one side of the control devices. I l I V Fig. 5 illustrates a variation in the rods for mounting the control devices.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the locking and releasing devices, showing the devices in position'to support the awning for shading pur 'posesi y i Fig. 7 illustrates the position of the releasing devices in position when the awning is folded or rolled up.

Fig. 8 illustrates the control devices in position for release.

laterally inwardly substantially parallel to 'by dotted out-line in Fig. 3 and at the same Fig. 9 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 10 is a similar view to Fig. 6, showing a modification.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The drawings show an awning 1. of suitable flexible material and a spring roller 2 of the conventional type is provided for operating" the awning. Upright frame members 3 are provided, upon the upper ends of which is mounted a bracket 4. The brackets 4 are duplicates except one has a round aperture for a bearing and the other has an oblong opening, to receive the ends of a conventional curtain or awning roller. The supporting rods 3 are of special design or construction, the upper ends5 project through the brackets 4: and the lower ends are bent to form clamps 6 for engaging the supporting rods 3. Just above the clamps 6, the rods 3 are bent laterally to form groove engaging members. 7. The members 7 extend upwardly and then the roller 2, passing through the brackets 4: at their upper ends. The groove engaging members 7 occupy the vertical grooves in the window frame and are at angles to the body members 3 of the supports. The supporting members 3 are to be sprung into the vertical grooves in the sash frames of the windows.

The upper ends of the supports 3 with the awningroller mounted therein are first located in the grooves. The parts 5 project through the upper ends of the brackets 4 and occupy a groove in the underside of the sash frame at the top. When first inserted, the parts 3 will be inclined outwardly as shown time the parts 3 will be inclined laterally outward as ind cated in Fig. 4, The lower ends of the members 3 carry plates 8 which are made rigid with the lower ends of the members 3 by bending portions 9 thereof U-shaped and then bending the short ends 10 horizontally and projecting the same through the plates 8 and securing the sameby nuts 11. Tongues 12 are struck from the plates 8 and bent about the lower parts of the members 3 I are pressed first towards eachother inorder. that the lugs 13 may pass the stops or edgesw 14 of the grooves and slip into the grooves 15.

to make the plates 8 rigid with the lower ends The parts 3 are then pressed bacl rwardly between the sash frame members so that the lugsl13 willenterthe grooves 15. Theawn- [which has three bearing points; The parts 5 r 1.120;

ingwill be securely held in theg-rooves by the resiliency of the members 3, each of bear againstthe part 1.6 of the sash frame. The parts 7 bear against the back wallof the vertical groove 15 and the lugs 13 bear against 'thefront wall 14; of the vertical groove15. 1 Provision is made for holding the awning at an elevation requiredQAsegmental rack 16 is made on each plate 8.- Braces 17 are operatively connected to theout edge of the awning l and pivotally connected by the fee.

members 10 to the members 3 and plates 8.

The ends 18 of the braces 17 'arebent back on the braces 17 and dogs 19 are adjustably v mounted'onthe parts 18 .and 17 The dogs 19 are held yieldinglyin engagement with the racks 16by springs 20. Means are providedfor releasing the dogs 19 from the racks 16; The tendency of the awning is to. pull upwardly, therefore the dogs 19- are-adapted {to engage any pair of the teeth on the'plates! 8 forholding the awning-down at the requiredelevation, since it willbe noted that.

. the dogs 19 are so constructed as toprovide two teeth in order to increasetl eir holding efliciency.

The releasing device 21. is "a plate. which .is

' 'pivotally. mounted on themember- 1 111 nor- 1 maloperation ofthe dogs19,the releasing devices .21 areidle. .The releasing device 21 .lfig. 7- -".Ihe lugszzwiu stoii aea nst ugsfia whic a "rigidwith' platesfS. The dogsI-19.

has .two shoulders or stops 22. and .23. 'When' the dogs are to berreleased the awnin'gislow-f ered until the'dogs pnshthe. release tothe P sit howninFig :Th gs will th be pushed on'thefllouter edges of vthe;release [devi es le a e. herel' ase ice willl 23 o th i le w l tep ag in Lllg 'T-Q W en t e ings-ar allew f o oll. up,

- b ine rawn' yr t esPr n-g ro ler; timing I f W llr On. the euterredgoi here 'eas d8! Stopp y s 5 c the Plates 8; The lu vigis unt l ihey each h ed tio sh w-n.

."- llfthm l n f: the release d vi e .andxt a Swings. 2.0 If

y w t. .6 inlates$gwher v g erativeposition, I

r Areleasing device is jpr'ovided for each dog.

:45 .1. Inanawningstructu fn-isrn includingthe mounting-for said structure having platesrigidly-aifixedto-its lower end th aidplateshaving t e har ngf on c la efla shaped fr m pi a r connected at ends, in the center of said-' ll;.,sho.ve the d'ogs bacl; into enuponthe releasing devices 21 fall to the position shown in Figure'S.

The variation shown in leased from the teeth of theratchet by a cam 27 on the plate 8. The dog 26 is mounted yieldingly on the framemember 17 and seats 7 against a washer or-"sleeve, 28. 'The' dog 26 has a flat edge or straight edge 29 which serves as a lock or holder for the dog in'combination with the'washer 28ito hold'the dog out of engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet when the awning is being elevated. lVhen the frame member 17 is broughtto the highest position, the dog strikes a trip 30 and this releases the holder 29 from the washer 28.

Fig. 10 eliminates the releasing device 21 andthe dog 26 is re-' When the dog 26 is being brought to its lowest. point,it willbe released from the teeth of the ratchet by the cam 27.andthisbrings the i holder 29 against the'washer 28.

- The simplicityof the present invention is] apparent, and itsoperationrequiresbut min v v imum effort, which latterofeatureis ofv much importance whenthe awning is applied in the manner and for the purposeillustrated;

that is to say, when it is fused upon automobile vehicles. Since thedriver .of a vehicle is required to give his attention to the operation of the latter, it wouldbe difficult for him to adjust an awning, requiring eflort while-: r illlBgVGlllCl 1s in motion; .The present invention is so designeda-nd. constructed thatits operation may bebrought about without de tracting the drivers attention from the openation of the vehicle, since it isonly necessary to grasp the outer edge of theawning; pull it. Thereleasing element21 will ,then engage and urge the dog'or detentf19 radially out ar the l t eth of. theplate 8; will? i What I. ic lai rn.- w,

re, controlimecha thesame .down to the lowest point andrelease "plates and havingyielding dramas; nornially normally inoperative ion 1 said plate! to urge with said teeth?" 1.

1 engaging the teethof's'aid platefand meansv said-awning, a ratchet; plate, a: frame joined? tot; the router-v edge. of" said awn;

pivotally. connect-ed tov saidplate, adetenticarriedby said' fram'e and I yieldingly urged into engagement with the,

ing and teeth of said plate, andnormally inoperative means carried by, said platefor urging' said latent to inoperative passion; when seia' frame is brought to the lowest position on said plate.

3. In an awning structure, control mechanism including the mounting for said awning, a ratchet plate carried rigidly on said mounting, the teeth thereof being on an arouate plane, a U-shaped frame to which the outer edge of said awning is afiixed and connected pivotally at its lower ends to said plate, means yieldingly engaging the teeth of said ratchet plates, and means held normally inoperative for disengaging said latter means when said frame is brought to the lowest position whereby to permit the latter to be raised to inoperative position.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand, this 16th day of March, 1929.

AUBREY O. HIGHSMITH. 

